“We’re delighted to have such prominent public figures at our Gala,” said JABA President Audra Mori, “both Justice McKenna and Congressman Schiff have very inspirational stories to share with our community. And the Iron Chef has worked tirelessly on behalf of Japan earthquake and tsunami victims.”

Justice McKenna was sworn in as a Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court on March 3, 2011. Born and raised in Japan, she attended the University of Hawaii on a basketball scholarship before going on to graduate from the University of Hawaii, School of Law, where she served as Editor in Chief of the Law Review. Justice McKenna was a civil litigator, corporate counsel, and law professor before becoming a trial court judge in 1993. She is the first openly gay member of the Hawaii Supreme Court.

Congressman Adam Schiff, who represents California’s 29th District, introduced legislation to honor veterans of the U.S. Army 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) with the Congressional Gold Medal. On November 2, 2011, those Japanese American WWII veterans received their recognition at the Gold Medal ceremony in Washington, D.C. Rep. Schiff said, “Their true heroism lies in how they fought for the values of America – equality, justice, and opportunity – even when those values were denied them at home.”

Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto will be recognized for his community service contributions throughout the years, including most recently the tsunami relief efforts co-sponsored by JABA with last year’s Thousand Hearts Benefit Concert. Iron Chef, trained in sushi and kaiseki, is known for his Japanese fusion cuisine at his restaurants throughout the world, including New York, Hawaii, India, Philadelphia and Napa. The Iron Chef will be specially appearing at the JABA Gala to accept the award.

Frank Buckley, KTLA Morning News Co-Anchor, will emceee the Gala.

The JABA Gala is an annual celebration at which distinguished members in the community are honored and the JABA Board is installed. Hundreds of lawyers, judges, elected officials, businesspersons, and members of the Japanese American community attend. Past speakers and honorees include U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, and Senator Daniel Inouye. JABA is the only Japanese American bar association in the country and one of the oldest Asian American bar associations. The JABA Educational Foundation will also hold a silent auction to raise scholarship funds for deserving law students. Entertainment will be provided by singer Mika Todd.

Gala Sponsors include Perkins Coie; Union Bank; Greenberg Glusker; Seki, Nishimura and Watase; Munger Tolles; and Crowell & Moring. Individual tickets are $125. For sponsorship information, contact Audra Mori at amori@perkinscoie.com or James Toma at tomajm@hotmail.com.

JABA Gala

JABA honors its past and celebrates its future at its Installation and Awards Gala on March 9, 2012 at the Omni Hotel in Los Angeles. The Honorable Justice Sabrina Shizue McKenna of the Supreme Court of Hawaii will be the keynote speaker and Congressman Adam Schiff and Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto will be honored.

The Consul General emphasized his desire to strengthen ties between the United States and Japan, and mentioned the Japanese American Leadership Delegation (JALD) as an example of a successful program that builds constructive relationships between the two countries. Several JABA members have participated as Delegates in that program.

Eric Nishizawa and Ken Tanaka from the JABA Business Lawyers Group organized the festive reception. “We’re honored that Consul General Niimi took time from his very busy schedule to provide this opportunity to our members and guests,” said Nishizawa, “We look forward to working further with the Consul General to improve relations between the America and Japan.” Nishizawa stated that the Business Lawyers Group speakers programs are a great opportunity for members to meet important decision-makers and influence important decisions. Members were able to speak with the Consul General in a setting where there was plenty of time for extended conversations.

Consul General Niimi’s previous international assignments were to England, Kenya, France, Iran, Russia, and Thailand. At the MOFA headquarters in Tokyo, he served as Director of the Overseas Public Relations Division, Director of the Consular Policy Division, Director of the Overseas Establishments Division, and Assistant Vice-Minister. JABA welcomes the Consul General and looks forward to maintaining an amicable and collaborative relationship with the Consulate General of Japan.

“It’s important to keep in mind those less fortunate, especially during the holiday season,” said Inoue. “We hope to bring a little joy to families going through tough times.” JABA has been a Toy Drive sponsor since its inception 12 years ago and many members volunteered to make this year’s event a great success. “I was glad to help,” said Mark Hanasono, who organized the JABA volunteers. “It feels good knowing we’re providing toys to children who might not otherwise have a lot to celebrate.”

Attendees, including volunteers, each brought a new toy valued at $20 or more or made a monetary donation used to purchase toys. The Toy Drive distributed over 1,500 toys and raised over $5,000 in admission and raffle proceeds. The toys were given to recipient organizations to distribute to families who receive their services. Those organizations include the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Little Tokyo Service Center and many others.

An estimated 450 persons attended the entertainment-filled event MC’d by Helen Ota with music by Joseph Vincent, Voco Loco, and Fujazz Band.

Participating bar organizations included JABA, APABA, APAWLA, KABA, SABA, SCCLA and TALA. “The sponsoring organizations and their volunteers make this a special event,” said Inoue. “It’s a wonderful event because we get so many toys for needy children but also bring together the APA community in doing so.”

For photos of the event, go here or here.

This year JABA President Alison Matsumoto presided over the meeting, assisted by President-Elect Audra Mori. Vice President and Membership Chair Steve Yoda announced that JABA membership had reached 240 members and that Doug Sugimoto had become a Lifetime Member. Steve acknowledged all the JABA Lifetime Members and Sustaining Members. A fabulous buffet dinner followed, including dim sum, peking duck, walnut shrimp, kung pao chicken, other dishes, and a mango pudding dessert. The reception for JABA 2011 Public Service Award recipients, Hon. Kathryn Doi Todd and the Hon. Ernest Hiroshige followed.

Vice President Steve Yoda introduced Judge Ernest Hiroshige. Judge Hiroshige was appointed to the Los Angeles Municipal Court in 1980 and to the Los Angeles Superior Court in 1982. One of the two most senior judges of the Los Angeles Superior Court, Judge Hiroshige was a founding member of JABA and the organization’s second President. Judge Hiroshige received the prestigious UCLA Alumni Service Award in 1994, and has a long history of community service.

The Hon. Victoria Chavez, Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeals, who serves with Justice Doi Todd, read statements of congratulation from the Hon. Roger Boren, Presiding Justice of Division Two of the California Court of Appeals, and Justice Judith Ashman-Gerst, Associate Justice. Past JABA President, Patricia Kinaga, introduced Justice Doi Todd, and presented her Award. Justice Doi Todd rewarded her audience with a fascinating account of JABA’s early history and her own journey to the bench. Appointed to the bench in 1978, Justice Doi Todd was the first Japanese American woman judge in the country. She was appointed to the CA Court of Appeals in 2000.

Corporate Affairs Committee Chair Diana Nishiura noted that these Awards were well-deserved and long overdue. Thanks to Diana and all the JABA members who helped organize this incredible event!

For photos of the event, see here

ABC newsman David Ono, emcee since 2000, read trivia questions to 39 teams, while making jokes about NBC. Despite their rivalry, the media teams were united in hissing at the attorney teams – JABA, Fong & Chun, and APALC, another former champion.

JABA was led by trivia king Jason Wilson, and the team included Dennis Yokoyama, Steve Yoda, Dee Hayashi, Don Denton, Dave Prechtl, Richard and Maribeth Mason, William Delgado, and Jerome Vered.

Volunteering as judges for the contest were several superior court judges: Hon. Akemi Arakaki, Hon. Lisa M. Chung, Hon. Fred Fujioka, Hon. Alan B. Honeycutt, Hon. John Ing, Hon. Roger Ito, Hon. Mark C. Kim, Hon. Bernie LaForteza, Hon. Tomson Ong, Hon. Rafael Ongkeko, Hon. Tammy C. Ryu, Hon. Timothy Saito, Hon. Paul Suzuki, and Hon. Gary Tanaka.

This year, a new award was added: the College Bowl Grasshopper Cup, for the top finisher among college teams. The Grasshopper Cup went to the USC Asian Pacific Alumni Association team. The final award, a case of ramen for the team which finishes in last place, was won by the Paradise Cookies Truck team; they may not be great at trivia, but they do make tasty cookies – a box was on each team table for participants to enjoy after the dinner supplied by Wahoo’s Fish Tacos. Thanks to AAJA for another terrific event, and congratulations to them on their 30th anniversary as a vital community organization!

(Want to know the answers to the trivia questions? Operation Neptune Spear, Pennsylvania, and Kim!)

For photos, see here.

Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas said that Yamamoto is “recognized in the API and LGBTQ communities as a leader who connects issues and communities to fight for human rights, justice and dignity.” Noting that Yamamoto “completed her transition from male to female in 2003 and continues to advocate for transgender rights while sharing her personal story as an out transgender woman of Japanese American ancestry,” Ridley-Thomas thanked Yamamoto for her “outstanding service to the people of Los Angeles County.”

“I accept the John Anson Ford Award on behalf of a community which has been oppressed and marginalized for far too many years,” Yamamoto told the Rafu Shimpo after the ceremony. “I am nobody special; however, whenever a transgender person of color is included, then maybe somewhere another transgender child of color is given the hope that there is a place for him or her in the world.

“And I give thanks to the many heroes and martyrs of the civil rights movement for providing the wave on which the rights of so many previously excluded people, including LGBT people of color, have been realized and recognized. For that, I am thankful.”

Also on hand for the presentations were Human Relations Commission President Sergio Paz and Executive Director Robin Toma.

Born Michael Yamamoto in the Poston internment camp in Arizona in 1943, she graduated from Cal State Los Angeles and served in the Army from 1966 to 1968, receiving the Army Commendation Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal. Yamamoto graduated from UCLA School of Law in 1971 where she co-founded the Asian Pacific Islander Law Student Association. She served as a poverty lawyer for the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (1971-74) and deputy Los Angeles County public defender (1974-84), and has been in private practice since 1984.
A former recipient of the American Bar Association Spirit of Excellence Award (2008), Yamamoto has also been honored as a Southern California Super Lawyer (2005-2008) and Criminal Defense Attorney of the Year by the Century City Bar Association (2006).

JABA congratulates Yamamoto, an outstanding leader and role model, on her well-deserved recognition.

“I am grateful for the warm reception accorded to me and my co-honorees by the Japanese American community,” said Ito. “The honorees have all pledged to continue with our community service.”

A past JABA President, Ito originally began working in the aerospace industry, but decided to change his profession and enrolled at Southwestern University, School of Law graduating in 1970. Ito was a deputy district attorney with the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office for 25 years as a trial attorney prosecuting major felonies. He has worked on international cases involving Japanese law and has worked with Japanese prosecuting agencies. He has also mentored Japanese prosecutors who visit Los Angeles to study the U.S. criminal justice system. In 2003, the Japanese government honored Ito with the Order of the Rising Sun with Gold and Silver Rays award for his work in the investigation and prosecution of international criminal cases and his contributions to Japan’s understanding of the American justice system.

Ito retired from the DA’s office in 1995 and entered private practice with the law firm of Lamb and Kawakami specializing in business and corporate law and civil litigation. He recently retired from the law profession but remains active in many community organizations such as JABA, Gardena Evening Optimist Club, Japanese American Republicans, and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California.

Reflecting upon his role in the formation of JABA, Ito said: “A small group of attorneys met in 1977 to discuss the formation of a bar association. I remember meeting at Ed Kakita’s office and at an office in the World Trade Center Building on Figueroa. I have seen JABA grow from a small bar association to its current large membership of prominent attorneys and judges. I am proud to have been a part of this great organization and wish JABA continued success in their contribution to the legal profession and the community at large.”

Ito was honored at a special Pioneers luncheon at the Kyoto Grand Hotel & Gardens. JABA congratulates Ito for this well-deserved recognition.

Despite being placed in the Group of Death with the Latino Prosecutors Association (LPA) and the South Asian Bar Association (SABA), team JABA began the day with high hopes, boasting a formidable roster of season veterans and fresh new recruits. The first game in pool play pitted JABA against SABA. Unfortunately, JABA’s bats were silent for much of the game as SABA jumped out to a quick lead. Late home runs by James Toma and Jeff Maloney were not enough to snag the victory as Team JABA dropped its first game.

The second game against LPA did not prove to be much of an improvement. LPA, coming off their championship in the recent Mexican American Bar Association tournament, proved once again that their fearsome reputation was deserved. Despite solid play from veteran softballer Jun Yamato, returning short stop Gary Dote, and expectant father/right fielder Mark Furuya, JABA once again fell short, suffering another loss at the hands of the hard hitting LPA.

Co-captain Hikari Kimura kept spirits high during lunch, in anticipation of JABA’s berth in the afternoon’s consolation bracket. The youthful energy of law students Karyn Ihara, Arnold Lee, Elaine Yu, and Thomas Perkins provided a much needed shot in the arm for the afternoon games. JABA’s bats came back to life against the John M. Langston Bar Association as the team prevailed through a combination of timely hitting and great defensive play.

In the final game of the day, Team JABA faced off against the Korean Community Lawyer’s Association (KCLA) in the consolation bracket championship. Spurred by the solid play of veteran first baseman Mark Yoshida and Ryota Gyoto in the outfield, JABA drove in runs early and often against the scrappy KCLA team and held on for its second and most important win of the day.

Co-captains Hikari Kimura and Jeff Maloney would like to thank the Friends of JABA who participated in the tournament and all our fans who came out to cheer us on. Special thanks to Alex Fukui and Diana Nishiura for helping to make the post tournament happy hour the biggest hit of the day. For photos click here.